I have some questions, I feel, we need to seriously think about:
*What do we hope to accomplish? *Have a CoC? Bad. Reasons for a CoC?
I'm sure we can come up with 1000's of reasons, and probably all good,
but a knee-jerk reaction we need one is not a reason to have one. But
reasons for it are the motivation, not the outcome. Are there laws or
other rules that possibly cover this better that we just need to
use/enforce? Are there other methods we can use?
*What is the goal and expected outcome? *And what are the consequences
of violating the CoC? Fundamentally we are imposing a set of Rules or
localized laws on behavior. I think we should think of it in that context.
*What unintended negative consequences might arise? * We can look to
history for may examples of well intended laws and rule that backfired
in spectacular, sometimes amusing, ways. *
*
*How should a report be addressed, and how should the complaint be
investigated?* For people to feel safe, yes, the reporter needs to feel
their complaint will be taken seriously, but the complainant should also
feel safe from false accusations. I've had female students threaten to
accuse me, but when they found out, it's not a "accuse and, by
definition, win", fundamentally blackmailing me with the threat of an
accusation means they can get what they wanted, they backed down. There
was a process of investigation. A case of attempting to get an 'A' by
blackmail, not by actually studying and thinking.
And a CoC will not mean things are by definition safe. But hopefully, a
person with a complaint of harassment, bullying, or what ever complaint
they may have, will feel they will be taken seriously and looked in to
as thoroughly as possible. And what is the process? Who has the finial
authority? Much like the agreements for warranties that say "you agree
to binding arbitration under thus and such conditions." Maybe not
binding arbitration, but what is the escalation path, and where does it
stop? And where and how does the complaint get escalated, Heaven
forbid, to law enforcement? And over all, what documentation will be
taken and how?
JRSM
--
_ | John R. S. Mascio / K5RYU
_|_|_) | mas...@k5ryu.com
(_|_| | http://k5ryu.com
k5...@arrl.net, mas...@gmail.com
mas...@email.phoenix.edu
j...@okinawankarateclub.com
k5...@winlink.org
